Opening Sequences

What is the purpose of an Opening Sequence?

An opening sequence helps set an introduction to the film. Giving the target audience knowledge of knowing where the movie is based at, what it's roughly about, what happened if there was to be a past or future point of view scene and who is presented in the film.

Primarily, an opening sequence introduces the genre of the film. What the opening sequence will contain obviously depends on what genre it is. For example, if it was an action thriller opening sequence, we would see quite a few guns/weapons, or iconography of blood, bruises, etc. This helps the audience of the film to have a clear enough idea of what the film will be containing and what they'll be viewing.

Opening sequences in films and television shows also utilise that moment they have to come in with a small or big introduction to the title of the film/television show, the cast casting in that film/television show and what their roles are playing.

What is the difference between Opening Credits and a Title Sequence?

Opening credit

An opening credit portrays to the audience who is being casted in the film as well as letting the audience know the authorities of some roles behind the scenes of who did what in contributing on making the film/television show. This can either be shown at the beginning of a film/television show or at the end of it, it all depends on the director/s.

Space Jam 

(Family/Comedy 1996 film)

This Opening credit for the famous 1996 film 'Space Jam' gives us a great example of how in debt a opening credit should look like for the audience. Immediately, we are introduced to the 2 main characters and 1 main thing about this film, basketball.

Title sequence

Meanwhile, a title sequence is always portrayed at the beginning of the film, right before the characters are shown. This helps set the theme and genre of the film/television show for the audience.

Catch me if you can 

(2002 Drama/Crime film)

This title sequence for the 2002 film 'Catch me if you can' is a great example of how thorough, and well set out an title sequence should generally look like. 

What techniques can be employed in an opening sequence?

Techniques that are used in opening sequences:

• establishing shots
• discrete opening sequences
• narrative openings
• 2D
• 3D
• motion capture
• character animation
• freeze framing
• symbolic colors
• effects
• close ups
• typography
• GCI
• cinematic imagery
• foreshadowing
• graphic imagery
• abstract openings

An example of the many techniques that are occasionally used in opening sequences is 2D styled graphics in 3D environments. This generally helps create a certain mood from the audience to the film, the 2D and 3D pictures that could be shown to the audience in a opening sequence helps the audience give all their attention towards the film.

Hitchcock film: Vertigo (1958)

This film was directed and produced by the well-known famous "master of suspense", Alfred Hitchcock. This is a 1958 American mystery thriller film that was originally inspired by the 1954 novel, 'D'entre les morts'. 

In the opening/title sequence of 'Vertigo', we are slowly introduced to just 1 main stream colour, red. Soon after, we are then introduced to more colours such purple, blue, green, etc. These colours symbolise to the audience a mix of suspense by the redness, and distress and eagerness by the rest of the colours. The sounds/audio (score) played in the background adds more to that suspenseful feeling Hitchcock was going for, which draws in the target audience to his film even more. 

Modern Thriller: Changeling (2008 film)

The title/opening sequence of 'Changeling' draws in the wanted attention from the audience right away. Immediately, we are quickly tied into this film by the animation and the score that is being used in the background. 

The iconography that is being used in this sequence allows the audience to untangle some bits of what this film may be about. This film shows us iconography through the colours (grey, black), the fading shadows, the creaked door and the flashing lights in the room. These icons introduces to the audience more about the genre of this film, giving a good first impression of what is contained in this film.

As we watch the sequence, we as the audience are quickly drawn into this film by the establishing shot of lights flashing on and off behind a closed door. The iconography being used in this part is foreboding and unusual. Why is the light flashing on and off like that? This scene of the sequence gives the audience a head start of knowing what this film is truely about. Gives us a tone of curiosity right from the beginning. As the establishing shot of the flashing lights behind the closed door is showing, we as the audience are more interested now that we see this.

Shortly after this scene from the sequence, we see the door unlock and open. In this scene we begin to create a feeling of suspense, due to the fact that the door cracks open while the lights are flashing to the drum of the thunder in the background, as well as a shadow of someone, flashing with the lights on and off. At once, this scene, without any hesitation, gives the audience an 'edge-of-seat' feeling. Suggesting that the audience is now 100% eager to find out what the film is about.

The font and animation being used in this sequence also unravels more of the suspenseful feeling towards the audience. As we view the font and what is being said, we notice that the font quickly fades away after a good amount of time for the audience to read what it said. This transition of the font fading away gives the audience more ideas and points of what the film is going to contain. The 'fading away' of the fonts suggest to the audience an idea of someone or something disappearing in the film. Hence the title of the film, Changeling.